At a time when layoffs are low rates for hiringAnd a mass enrollment culture have contributed to a crazy job market, taking a career break could be one of your riskiest decisions.
But what if it turns out to be the best?
Government data shows that career breaks are relatively common, but those trying to return to work account for around 30% of them unemployed Americans — re-entering the labor market is not always easy. In a 2026 study published in Labor Economics, 163 recruiters in Belgium were asked whether they would interview or hire a hypothetical candidate who had taken a career break. The probability generally decreased with each month the candidate was out of work.
For the six people who spoke to Business Insider about stepping back from work, the risk yielded great results. They returned to their industries or found alternative paths to new and exciting careers. You could build a new business while taking the trip of a lifetime through South America. Another accomplished the greatest feat of her life: caring for her dying parents.
Read their stories below, in their own words:
